Garfield County Caps Hogback Bus Funding at $200,000 for 2027

Glenwood Springs —Commissioner Tom Jankovsky is willing to write a check for $200,000. But he’s drawing a hard line in the sand: it’s for one year only.

That’s the new reality for the Hogback bus route, the lifeline connecting Rifle, Silt, and unincorporated Garfield County to New Castle and the Roaring Fork Valley. The Post Independent reports that Garfield County commissioners made it clear Tuesday that this contribution is a bridge, not a destination. Without a more permanent funding solution, the county isn’t interested in becoming a permanent subsidy machine.

Let’s do the math on why this matters. The Hogback route costs roughly $900,000 annually to operate. It generates about $70,000 in fares. That leaves a massive gap. For context, the county’s contribution has been shrinking. In 2025, Garfield County provided $500,000. In 2026, that drops to $250,000. Now, for 2027, the ceiling is $200,000.

This is a significant shift from July, when Jankovsky called the $200,000 figure a “placeholder.” On paper, the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board backed a three-year framework in July to keep the service alive while the towns work out a dedicated funding source. In practice, the county is now saying, “We’ll play ball for 2027, but we’re not playing forever.”

The stakes are high because the clock is ticking. Without a new funding agreement, Hogback service west of New Castle is scheduled to end Nov. 23. RFTA CEO Kurt Ravenschlag needs clarity by early September to plan the winter schedule, which kicks off Nov. 24. He’s aware of the county’s position, but he needs to know exactly how many buses, drivers, and routes he can staff.

Rifle and Silt are also pulling their weight, though modestly. Each contributes $40,000 in 2026. The July proposal suggested Rifle’s share would double to $80,000 in 2027, with Silt’s increasing as well. But compared to the $900,000 operating cost, these are small numbers.

It’s worth noting that the western communities aren’t even members of RFTA. The authority is funded by dedicated local tax revenue from Pitkin and Eagle counties, plus the cities of Aspen, Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, and New Castle. So, folks in the western part of the county are relying on a system they don’t directly control or fund through the same tax mechanisms as the eastern partners.

Jankovsky hinted that another RFTA funding issue influenced his willingness to support the $200,000 cap. It suggests the county is looking at its total transportation exposure, not just Hogback in isolation. If RFTA is asking for more elsewhere, the county has less room to spare here.

For locals in Rifle and Silt, this means stability for 2027, but anxiety for 2028. If the towns can’t agree on a dedicated tax or a different regional model by next year, the bus stops might disappear. The 200,000 annual passenger trips — more than half originating in the western communities — are at risk.

The bottom line is simple: Garfield County is paying for one more year of Hogback service, capped at $200,000. After that, the burden shifts entirely to Rifle, Silt, and whatever permanent solution they can forge. Until then, the route survives. But it’s on a timer.